Big Daddy D -slow updates

The End of the Beginning

Duka held Tina's hand tight and took a deep breath as the stepped on the elevator. For the first time in his life he was bringing someone to his home to meet his family. There was always a junkie mom or too many little kids running around for him to even think of bringing someone he cared about into his world. Even his boys he grew up with stayed in the hall or met downstairs.

But Tina was different. She was his goddess and he wanted to share everything with her. They'd only been together two weeks but Duka swore she was the one.

The elevator was going so slow. His stomach was doing somersaults. He tugged on the collar of his shirt as his face flushed. Tina was such a high-class girl. What the hell was he thinking bringing her here?

Would she dislike where he lived? Would she think less of him and his siblings? He looked around and scratched his head. From the peeling paint, crooked lights, and carpets one wash away from destruction everything in the building screamed 'low class poor.'

This was a bad idea. The worst ever.

He stole a quick side glance. She looked back at him with a bright smile and leaned on his arm.

"I'm excited to meet your family."

His scorching skin was doused in spring water. Duka took a steadying breath and leaned down to kiss her on her forehead. She really knew how to relax him. From the time they met she was like cold water to a thirsty man constantly filling him. The elevator stopped on his floor and they stepped off.

As they walked down the hall, he told her a little about his siblings and their life before his father died. Tina seemed more eager to meet them. When they got to the end of the hall, the sound of glass breaking made them stop in their tracks. There were several shouts and a loud thud. Duka closed his eyes.

Please don't be my house. Not today. Please, God.

There was another crash.

"You crazy bitch!"

"I'm crazy? What the hell do you think you are?"

"Fuck1" Duka swore under his breath. Turning to Tina, he patted her hand. "I'm not sure what's going on. We can come back another time."

She shook her head with a light smile. "No, it's okay. I'm sure it'll be fine."

He chuckled to himself. If only you knew. Before he could put his key in to open the door, it was yanked open and a plushie hit him in the face.

"Take all this shit and get out. I'm not raisin' no more babies!"

Dazzia snorted. "Not like you raised any of us in the first place."

His mother raised the plastic cup in her hand. "What did you say!?"

Dazzia lifted her chin in defiance and met her mother's blazing eyes. "You heard me." The cup came sailing through the air and hit the wall in the hallway.

Seeing two other people in the doorway, Aniya clenched her fists at her sides. "Hurry up and pack your shit."

"Whatever, bruh." Dazzia grabbed a duffle bag and tossed it by the door before turning and going back to her room.

What a mess. Of all the days... Duka walked into the kitchen and plastered on a fake smile. "Mom, I'm home."

She inhaled from a cigarette she pulled out of who knows where, and exhaled in his direction. "Bout time. Help your sister pack."

"What's goin' on?"

Aniya sneered. "She done went out here and got herself knocked up."

Dazzia appeared back in the kitchen with a bookbag and small stuffed animal. "It's not the end of the world. "

Duka's brows furrowed at his older sister. "You're pregnant?" Dazzia didn't have a serious job, no savings, or a place to live when she left. How was she going to afford a child? Food stamps and WIC only paid so much.

As if oblivious to the tense atmosphere around, Tina bounced on her toes and clapped in excitement. "Congratulations."

Everyone turned to Tina. Her smile faltered. "Was that the wrong thing to say?"

Dazzia snorted and gave her mother a mocking look. "You'd think I killed children and sucked their blood."

"Blaspemy!" Aniya paused and looked at Tina. Her eyes went up one side and down the other before looking at her son for an explanation.

Duka grasped Tina's hand. "This is Tina. My girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Aniya snorted and pulled another cigarette out of her housecoat. "Boy can't even piss straight talkin' bout some girlfriend." She snorted. "You need to be tryin' to find a job. Pay some of these damn bills."

"Mom, I'm only 16." Duka rolled his eyes.

"And? Lots of kids work at Mickey D's or somethin'." She flopped on the couch and rolled her eyes. "Ya just lazy. Ya need to be tryin' to make money and not chasin' after some hot ass lil' girl."

Horrified by his mother's words, Duka wanted nothing more than to finds a hole in the ground. "Mom!"

Carrying another bag from her room, Dazzia snorted. "Duka, ignore her."

Aniya stabbed a finger in her direction. "Shut yo ass up and get the hell out."

Dazzia grabbed her bags and headed to the door. "I'm gone."

"Wait, wait! " Duka reached out to stop her. "Dazzia, where are you going?" He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her eye to eye. Of his four older siblings, she was the only one with him. They had been a tight knit bunch but it seemed they were all becoming more and more distant.

"Anywhere is better than here, Duka." She lowered her voice. "You find a way out too."

It's not like he'd never considered it. But they were just kids with no money and no power. What could they do? "Call Donnie."

"I called before I came home. He's probably workin'." She sighed looking a little lost. "I'll just go stay with my boyfriend for now."

"But-"

There was a knock before the half shut door was pushed open. Donnell's eyes landed on their mother puffing on a cigarette on the couch, the lost white girl trying to look inconspicuous by the fridge, and his two siblings on the other side of the door.

Aniya sucked her teeth.

"Hello." Donnell flashed a bright smile as he came inside and shut the door all the way. "What did I miss?"